It is my understanding that the major US cable companies also don't compress. It has been mentioned that some cable companies that are short on bandwidth do compress, but let's not make any "blanket statements" that give the incorrect impression.

I appreciate the clarification. I apologize if what I said came across as a blanket statement; it wasn't my intention. Poor wording.

I always considered if it wasn't RAW then it's compressed. Just not good with the technicalities of this stuff.

Even if the HD signal isn't compressed there is the issue of compressing the SD signal, is there not. What is the bitrate for 480i 4x3? I am assuming that Rogers uses about 6.7Mbps since that is 1/3 the bitrate of HD and 3 channels fit into the space of 1 HD channel. But does 6.7Mbps SD look as good as SD sent on an HD channel - not on my TV.

I'm wondering if we will be getting CBC-HD from Vancouver on Shaw cable, starting March 5th?!?!

On CBC's high definition information page:

http://www.cbc.ca/hdtv/index.html

If you click on "HDTV mandate"

You'll see:

"The CBC will begin broadcasting in HDTV on March 5, 2005 in both Toronto and Vancouver."

meshmellow


I guess it was a typo, because now I see the wording has been altered to say "The CBC will begin broadcasting in HDTV on March 5, 2005 in both Toronto and Montreal." :(

meshmellow

Hmm, just noticed this on CBC's HDTV site:
http://www.cbc.ca/hdtv/hdtimes/winter2005.pdf

Must have just gone up, as the PDF file is dated last Friday afternoon, internally.

Some interesting information about what they are doing!

Nick

I'll be recording Rick Mercer and Newsroom tonight to see what happens. Currently the news is 4:3. The audio is DD5.1, but not properly encoded. (my recording has already started (set to end at 9PM) since no programming shows up today, but does for later in the week)

Hmm, just noticed this on CBC's HDTV site:
http://www.cbc.ca/hdtv/hdtimes/winter2005.pdf

Must have just gone up, as the PDF file is dated last Friday afternoon, internally.

Some interesting information about what they are doing!

NickGood catch! Thanks for that Nick, it answers most of my questions about the March 5 launch. Is CBC using 1080i or 720p?

cheers,
stampeder

The Toronto Broadcast Centre’s HD video distribution standard will be 1080i/29.97 format. The HD audio distribution standard will be eight discrete channels reserving channels 7 and 8 for DV or “Descriptive Video”, a feature that provides audio commentary to describe various elements of a show for the visually impaired. At the end of the HD signal path a Dolby AC-3 Encoder that will encode audio for distribution.

From the PDF.

The Toronto Broadcast Centre’s HD video distribution standard will be
1080i/29.97 format.

Huh?!


There is a specific HD format known as
24p which has been designed for optimum
cross and downconversion flexibility to a
number of formats including film and the
50 frame world.

Oh to hope that CBC supports 1080p@24!

The Newsroom appeared to be in HD tonight. Coronation Street at 7:30 was shown in widescreen but SD (I believe). The CBC is taking the HD lead in Canada and they haven't even (officially) launched their channels yet!

Coronation Street at 7:30 was shown in widescreen but SD (I believe).

What they are doing for Coronation street is taking their 14:9 letterbox version that they received from the UK, and are zooming it to 16:9. This is not the true Widescreen version, and I hope they obtain the 16:9 anamorphic masters from the UK soon.

Hmm, just noticed this on CBC's HDTV site:

That's a very interesting newsletter. Shows CBC is serious about HD, unlike our sadsack private Canadian broadcasters.

I've recently been able to obtain a similar newsletter from Global TV (http://www.roadhockey.net/globalhdtv.pdf)!!!

Nels,
that's brilliant. I love the part about 1 speaker.

The Newsroom was in HD last night. I thought the PQ was good...as good as most US series on US HD channels. The audio seemed a little flat.

The PQ on Rick Mercer was also good althought the format was 4:3. Overall the SD PQ has been quite good so I wonder if they have converted al lot of their facilities to digital.

The HD programming curve in Canada, which has been flat for quite a while, just took a jump.

I tried looking in this thread but must have missed it, is there a date when Bev will carry CBC HD?

Bravo Nels,

here's that URL for everyone that missed it

Global HDTV Insider (http://www.roadhockey.net/globalhdtv.pdf)

Battscrew, no word from ExpressVu although the CBC newsletter suggests that Bell will have it so I wouldn't be surprised if it shows up on the guide later this week.

Gary, NTSC video is and has always been 29.97 frames per second. AKA "drop frame".

The PQ on Rick Mercer was also good althought the format was 4:3. Overall the SD PQ has been quite good so I wonder if they have converted al lot of their facilities to digital.

Yes, it’s surprising how much more vibrant and defined the SD PQ is compared to the CBC analog side. At least it is on my Sony GWIII LCD were analog and digital stations look ok at best.

Does anyone know what power level these CBC Digitial broadcasts are using in Toronto?

note to padlock, your post was deleted. I don't see how macroblocking on TMN has to do with CBC introducing HDTV.

note to others, stay on topic.